Primary school De Twirre Eastermar helps school in Armenia.

It was five years ago that board members of the Famtofam Foundation (www.famtofam.nl)
visited the Shirak region in Armenia. Poverty there has risen sharply in recent years due to
the consequences of Covid-19 and high inflation. The area in question was hit by a terrible
earthquake in 1988. At the end of May, a board delegation finally visited the area where they
provide aid. A journey full of emotions and reunion of acquaintances on the spot.
“As Famtofam board, we were very much looking forward to this trip. The program was
packed with activities, visits and talks. Every time it seems like a roller coaster you end up
on. However, seeing ‘our’ employees Karine, Kristine and Anna (and their families) again
gives so much energy (mutual) and sometimes also evokes emotions. These women are
champs,” says board member Elle Hoekstra.

What is Famtofam?

Famtofam is a foundation in which a group of enthusiastic volunteers in the Northern
Netherlands are committed to providing assistance in the Shirak region of Armenia. They are
assisted in this by 3 contact persons in Armenia who are ‘the ears and the eyes’ for
Famtofam.
In 1988, a terrible earthquake completely destroyed the city of Gyumri. People in North-East
Fryslân took the fate of these people to heart and offered concrete help in the earthquake
area. In 2001, this led to the establishment of the Famtofam foundation. In this area, even
after almost 35 years, there are still people who have to live in containers and survive on a
few cents. The focus of Famtofam is on children. Famtofam wants to enable these children
to receive education, which gives them more opportunities for a better future. Elle Hoekstra:
“We want to make a difference by providing direct financial support so that the poorest
children are enabled to receive education. The monthly sponsor contributions (for 250
children) are paid 100% to the families there.”

School project De Twirre – Lusakert

Primary school De Twirre collected money for Famtofam in 2019 and 2020. That has raised
the fantastic amount of € 2,500. The money was raised by faithfully saving at school every
week, and a Christmas market was also organized in 2019.
With this money, the board of Famtofam went “shopping” in consultation with the selected
school in Armenia (Lusakert). 3 computers, a printer, 10 chairs, 11 bookcases, 4 heaters for
heating the classrooms and a lot of sports equipment have been bought. The board has
made images of all these good gifts at the school. The school was very happy with De
Twirre’s action. Yesterday, as agreed, the Famtofam board reported to the students of De
Twirre. Photos and a video were shown of the visit to the school in Lusakert. This way the
children could see for themselves how their saved money was spent in Armenia.
As thanks for their actions, De Twirre was presented with a book about Armenia and a wall
decoration from the school in Lusakert. This was handed over by the chairman of Famtofam
(Gjalt Voolstra).